Winding reel for maps or the like



July 13, 1943. M. H. ALBERS 2,324,453

vWINDINGr REEL FOR MAPS OR THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7I M//A/Jzow Q llllllllllu( .'llllll llll Illllllllltll ull lllllINVENTOR.

MM ./7! A1. uns

5 f5 'Y A BY July 13, 1943. M. H. ALBERS WINDING REEL FOR MAPS OR THELIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1941 M 6 a m T. ms mm. 5 L A.. .M 0 MPatented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING REEL FOR MAPSOR THE LIKE Milo H. Albers, Wichita, Kans. Application May 2, 1941,Serial No. 391,584

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a winding reel for maps, or the like, and hasfor one of its objects, a compact mechanism having a visual openingthrough the top, across which a map or directional guide may be moved tolocate points of interest therealong, such as cities, tourist camps, andnotations made on the map, and also the mileage from place to placebeing marked thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of suicientsize so that the information placed on the map is clear with respect tovisibility, and furthermore the device is adaptable to being placed in amotor vehicle in View of the driver.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an internalillumination for the casing of the device so that the indicia of the mapis discernible in the dark or subdued light.

A still further Object of this invention is to provide a device ofy thecharacter herein described that is comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture, elicient in its performance, and furthermore the simplicityof exchanging maps for different routes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a windingmechanism for the map carrying spools of the device that will turn thespools separately and in opposite directions, which, in turn, Will movethe map oppositely its entire length or to any point thereonselectively.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecication, and in which like characters will apply to like parts inthe different views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the Winding reel mechanism, the top and otherparts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, the casing removed along line 2 2 inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the master gears.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the toothed clutch for the master gears.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a bracket to carry the device attached to asteering post.

The invention herein disclosed consists of a casing comprised of abottom I ends 2 and 3, respectively, and one side 4, all integrallyjoined,

and a removable side wall 5, also a removable top 6.

Upwardly extending from the upper edge of wall 3 is a pair of aperturedlips- I spaced apart while the adjacent end of the top is notched tostraddle the lips, each notch having a tongue 8 to engage in theaperture of its respective lip, While the other end of the top isnotched to engage a pair of tongues 9. It will now be seen that the topis maintained in registry with the side and end Walls, and securedagainst lateral and longitudinal movement, the top being rockablyconnected at end wall 3 so that the other end of the top is free to moveupward at the .i time of removal, but secured in place by a lip Illfrictionally engaging on a nob II secured inward of end wall 2, the saidtop being so engaged is accessible means to the interior of the casing.

The removable side has notched edges to engage on lips I2 along itsbottom and end wall edges as shown in Fig. 4, said side being removablefor the purpose later described.

Concentrically positioned through the bottom of the casing is a slot I3having a transverse slot I4 crossing one end through which the head A ofa bolt I5 will enter for sliding movement of the bolt along slot I3 assecuring means for the case to a bracekt I6 clamped to the steering postIl, the bracket having an elongated slot B to move the case toward andfrom the steering post, this being one method of carrying the structurein a motor vehicle. It will be seen that the slots above referred tohave a covering I8 applied to the inner side of the bottom, the'covering being depressed to provide room for the thickness of the bolthead while the shoulders C of the depression will retain the bolt headfrom turning at the time of turning a nut that threadedly engages on thebolt, the said plate also serving as a reinforcing means for the bottomadjacent the slots.

Journalled in the casing adjacent each end thereof is a spool I9 and 20,respectively, the spools being rotatably mounted o-n their respectiveshafts 2I' axially extending through the spools, the ends of the shaftsbeing carried against rotation by their respective side Walls' in suchway that the end of the shaft adjacent side wall 4 has its bearing in anaperture in the wall and removable therefrom, while the other endengages in a square aperture in the removable side wall 5 and beingintegrally secured thereto for the purpose later described.

Positioned between the spools and being jourshaft clockwise the nalledin the side wall is a shaft 22, one end of the shaft having a spindle22l to engage in an aperture extending through side Wall 4 at whichpoint the wall is reinforced by an outward extension D, while the otherend of the shaft is journalled in a knurled bearing 23 seating in theremovable side wall 5, and being secured therein by a nut 24 threadedlyengaging on the inner end of the bearing as shown in Fig. 5, the saidknurled bearing being reamed at its inner end to receive a collar 25seated therein, the collar being rigidly secured to the shaft to avoidlongitudinal movement outward through the bearing. Positioned on the endof the shaft projecting through the knurled bearing is a crank 26 havinga sleeve 26 axially bored to engage on the shaft and being securedthereto by a set screw 21. the crank as turning means for the shaft.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the knurled bearing is a gear 28having a series of ratcheted teeth 29 concentrically positioned andradially extending a short distance from the bore of the gear to beengaged by the ratcheted teeth 30 of a clutch element 3| rotatably withthe shaft as turning means for said gear, the movement bf the clutchbeing later described, and another gear 32 of equal pitch diameter tothe rst said gear, last said gear having a recessed extension 33 toreceive the clutch element insertible therein, the recess having aseries of ratcheted teeth 34 in the bottom thereof to be engaged bysimilar teeth 35 on their adjacent end of the clutch element, saidextension having a hub axially bored to rotatably engage on said shaft,there being a collar 35 secured to the shaft by a set screw 31 as meansto retain the gear in spaced. relation from the Clutch element, and thesaid gears being spaced apart by an annular extension 38 integral withthe confronting side of said gear. 28, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that the clutch element is cylindrical in form andaxially bored to engage on the shaft slidably, each end of the clutch asheretofore described having a series of teeth radially extending andslanting oppositely to engage with their respective coinciding teeth ofthe gears. Said clutch has a slot 39 slantingly positioned and extendingthrough the wall thereof to receive a pin 40 secured to the shaft andslidable in the slot to move the clutch longitudinally l on the shaft asthe pin is rocked from one end lto the other of the slot, by a turn ofthe shaft,

fthe slanting walls of the slot to function as a `lcam to move theclutch element; being so arranged, when the shaft is turnedanticlockwise, `the 4teeth of the clutch will engage with the teeth ofthe gear 28 as shown in Fig. 5 to turn the same in one continuousdirection, and by a turn of the pin in response will move the clutch toengagement with the ratcheted teeth -ofthe other gear to turn the sameoppositely to that of the first said gear.

' Trunnioned at the removable side wall 5 are gears 4l and 42 on shafts43 in mesh with their respective gears 28 and 32, and a gear 44 and;- 45that are secured to their respective spool ends, whereby anticlockwiseturn of the shaft 22 by itscrank will in turn revolve spool I9 in thesame direction as means to wind a route map on said spool, the end ofthe map being secured thereto vby a at hook 41 engaging in an eye 48 inthe end of the map, it being understood that prior to such winding themap is wound on the other spool which is free to revolve as itsrespective train of gears are disengaged from the clutch for freewheeling, and vice versa to wind the map on spool 2U the crank is turnedclockwise, the movement of which will engage the clutch with the insidegear 32 instant to its disengagement with the other gear.

It will now be seen that the map may be moved longitudinally in eitherdirection by winding the same on the spools alternately, the same beingaccomplished by the turning movement of a sin- `gle crank shaft; inother words, free wheeling is larranged for the spool from which the mapis being unwound.

As a means to avoid excess slack of the map between the spools, there isarranged in each spool a coil spring 49, the spring seated in an axialbore of the spool body terminating a spaced distance inward from the endthereof, the impact of the spring being impinged with a pair of washers5U, one being at the bottom of the bore and the other being secured by apin 5i diametrically passing through the shaft adjacent the outer end ofthe spool, whereby a friction brake is formed by the expansion of thespring.

As a rigid support for the portion of the map between the spools, thereis positioned across the casing a transparent or a translucent plate 52of an improved substance, said plate being carried by the side wallsthat are notched downward to receive the same flush with the upper edgesof the wall, each end of each notch and plate being correspondinglydove-tailed as at 53 to avoid an upward or outward movement of the platewhen seated therein.

It will also be seen that the oppositely disposed edges of the plate arearced downward so that the map will slide thereover.

The top of the casing has an opening substantially in registry with theplate as accessible means to the map to mark notations thereon.

As a means to illuminate the inap in the dark or subdued light there isprovided an electric lamp 54 carried by the bottom of the casing beneaththe plate and electric wiring 55 to connect the lamp with a source ofelectric current, there being a switch appropriately placed to theconvenience of the driver to make and break the current for the lamp,the switch not being shown in the drawings.

The removable side Wall heretofore explained is secured in place byscrews 56 threadedly engaging in their respective shafts 43, axialthereof, whereby said shafts are secured to the other sideI wall, whilethe other ends of the shaft are integrally joined to the removable sidewall by welding or otherwise.

It will now be seen when said screws 55 are removed, wall 5 may beremoved'carrying therewith the spools, gear shafts, and the map, wherebythe assembly of the component parts of the reel, as carried by the saidremovable side wall, is a convenience for repair or general assembly ofthe structure.

As a convenient means to indicate ownership of the device, there is aspace provided on the top adjacent each end thereof, one of which issymbolized as at E representing the name of a firm or line of businessor the owner of the vehicle and device.

While I have shown and described a map relating to 'a tourist log, thesame may be changed for other purposes; for example, duplicate bills,statements, and game schedules; also tabular-ions for records such asphone numbers, business or domestic addresses or appointment records,and furthermore to bus routes, truck lines, and logs for airplanenavigation, all being operated by my reel free wheeling mechanismoperated by a single crank shaft heretofore described. Attention isfurther directed that the train of gears may be substituted by series ofbelts and pulleys with equal efficiency, and such other modificationsmay be made as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a winding reel for maps or the like of the class described, thecombination of a rectangular casing, the casing comprised of ends, oneside and a bottom integrally joined, the other side removably secured tothe bottom and ends, and a top having a centrally disposed rectangularopening therethrough, the top being removably secured to the sides andend walls, and a removable plate extending across the opening and beingcarried by the side walls a spaced distance inward from the top, saidcasing having a spool journalled in its side walls adjacent each end ofthe casing and the spools having a route map wound thereon to convey themap across the plate adjacent the opening in the top, a shaft centrallypositioned in the casing and being journalled in the side walls, thejournalled bearing in the removable side wall being a knurled bearingaxially bored to receive the shaft, said bearing extending through saidwall and secured therein by a nut threadedly engaging on the inner endof the bearing, the shaft having a collar secured thereto and rotatabletherewith, said collar abutting the end of the bearing, said shafthaving a crank on its outer end adjacent the knurled bearing, 'a pair ofgears rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the knurled bearing, andgear means connecting each of rst said gears to each of said spoolsrespectively, one of first said gears having a hollow hub outwardlyextending from its side opposite the other gear, said hub havingradially disposed teeth inward of its outer end and spaced around theshaft, the other gear having similar teeth secured to its side adjacentthe hub and extending slightly inward thereof, 'a circular clutchelement axially bored to loosely engage on the shaft and movelongitudinally thereon for engagement with the gears selectively, andmeans to cause rotation of the clutch element with the shaft and slidingmovement thereon toward and from each gear selectively, said clutchelement having a series of teeth on each end thereof to engage withtheir respective gears with respect to the turning direction of theshaft whereby said gear means are engaged selectively to turn theirrespective spools to convey the map across the plate in either directionin response to the directional turn of the shaft.

2. In a Winding reel for maps, or the like, said reel having a casingcomprised of a bottom, sides, ends, an open top, a spool rotatablypositioned adjacent each end of the casing and an elongated map adaptedto be wound on the spools to move across the opening in the top, arotatable shaft trunnioned in the sides of the casing intermediate ofthe ends of the casing and in parallelism with the spools, another shaftsecured rigidly to the casing intermediate the rotatable shaft and eachof the spools, a gear secured to each spool and another gear trunnionedon each of last said shafts and in mesh with its respective spool gear,and another pair of gears positioned loosely on the rotatable shaft,said gears being in close proximity and a side of one gear confrontingthe side of the other gear, one of last said gears being in mesh withone of the second named gears while the other last said gear is in meshwith the other of second named gears, each confronting side of last saidgears having teeth formed therein and a clutch element mounted on theshaft between last said gears, said clutch element having teeth on eachend thereof to selectively engage the ends of the clutch element withtheir respective gears, and means on the shaft to move the clutchelement longitudinally on the shaft to engagement with its respectivegear when the shaft is selectively turned.

MILO H. ALBERS.

